Pages

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Is This Love that I'm Feeling?

Good lord, what is happening to me? This pattern is totally not my usual style and yet . . . I WANT it. It caught my eye on Etsy early yesterday, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I think it's fantastic, especially with the Annie Hall styling on the left. (Fun fact: this pattern was released 5 years before the movie was.)Perhaps this pattern crush means I secretly long to return to my roots as a child of the 70's. Some fashion elements of that decade certainly appeal to me: the tie-neck blouses, pleated skirts, dolman sleeves, the narrow-shouldered jackets. Then again, there are many more that definitely do not appeal to me: polyester, disco wear, caftans, maxi dresses, and bell bottoms, to name just a few.

But there's probably a bit more to my obsession with this pattern than that: I also find myself filled with an overwhelming sense of giddiness at trying a style so far out of my comfort zone. Do you know what I mean? I think it's kind of like imagining oneself with a completely different haircut: that soaring feeling that maybe there's a new, more fabulous version of yourself just waiting to be revealed. But then you chop off all your hair and realize that you're just the same person with a different haircut. And it dawns on you just how large your derriere will look in a pair of 70's-style trousers, even though you know you shouldn't say those things because you're trying to set an example of being more body-positive. Wherever you go, there you are, eh?

I still do have a tiny yearning desire to have this pattern in my collection. Sadly, I can't find it in my size and I'm not about to try grading this one, especially when I'm not sure I'd make it anyway. So, if you are a 32-1/2 inch bust and want to dazzle the world with your devastatingly glamorous Annie Hall look, please buy this pattern. Come on. Do it for me.

16 comments:

Oh my. I think it's fabulous, and that you should definitely get it. I love the sleeves and the gentle curve of the revers. I'd definitely get it if I hadn't already bought two petterns yesterday (one is from 1952!) Forget the pants if you can't stand them, but the jacket would really look lovely with a pencil skirt in a red or bright pink wool.

I'm with Sandra too, sorry! But if it's any consolation, I frequently have pattern lust for patterns that would not look good on anyone unless they were proportioned just like the drawing on the front.

I love it on the left, kinda don't on the right... I have a similar love/hate thing with 70s fashions, and I totally agree it's from being a young child during them. Like with some 70s fashions there's this deep, deep glamour I feel, different from any other era. But it's really style-specific with me too, and I'm not always sure why one thing I find deeply ICKY and others I think are fabulous. There's no division along, say high/low fashion lines or anything. But the reactions to them have that childhood-feeling potency.

I have this very pattern except I only have the pants pattern pieces!! I keep the envelope because I love the illustration so much. I hope to come across a complete pattern one day. It's a little full-on, I don't know that it would look good on me anyway but there's just SOMETHING about it.

Is that a shoulder princess line I see? It's gorgeous and would look spectacular in a deep rose colored wool crepe. Properly lined and fitted of course. Maybe with one of those funky obi belts. Maybe an princess seam on the trousers as well? Or just a sharp press. And high heeled boots. I'm sure you'd look gorgeous in it. Alot of work to make, though.

I am positive this is the same suit I made for my first job in the 70s. If not, it is certainly similar. Also made a long line button up vest and skirt so I could inter-match all pieces. Have gotta drag out my old patterns to check. I still love the design and can see it on my 19 year old niece.